Experiences From Two Sensor Network Deployments - Self-Monitoring and Self-Configuration Keys to Success

Despite sensor network protocols being self-configuring, sensor network deployments continue to fail. The authors report their experience from two recently deployed IP-based multi-hop sensor networks: one in-door surveillance network in a factory complex and a combined out-door and in-door surveillance network. Their experiences highlight that adaptive protocols alone are not sufficient, but that an approach to self-monitoring and self-configuration that covers more aspects than protocol adaptation is needed. Based on the authors' experiences, they design and implement an architecture for self-monitoring of sensor nodes.